Monsieur Claude Reynaud is known throughout France for his talent for making fabulous clothes. The most elegant women in Paris regularly make the pilgrimage to the cobbled village of Senlis to be charmed by the tailor in the cluttered studio by the century-old apple tree. Claude can take a measurement at a glance, stores everything in his head, and fashions each dress by hand. And, despite his ex-wife's protests, he refuses to be lured by the promise of the Parisian fashion industry. He is too old change and certainly too old to fall in love: his only passion is his studio.

Then one afternoon, in a cloud of spring blossom, Mademoiselle Valentine de Verlay arrives on Claude's doorstep. She commissions him to create her wedding dress. But before the first stitch has even been made, Claude realises that for the first time in his life he has fallen passionately in love and, very quickly, the seams of both their lives begin to unravel...

Journal Entry 2 by Plum-crazy at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, July 24, 2011

A nice story about a lonely tailor who falls in love. The story was entertaining enough but, for me anyhow, was just lacking something that meant it was just a "nice story" rather than being anything more.

For some reason from the back cover blurb I expected it to be set in the 1940's or 50's but something in the story seemed to indicate it was set coming up to the Millenium - however I can't find that reference now! The atmosphere to me anyhow suggested a setting of a few decades ago. The assumption I'd made about Claude was also inaccurate! Again from the cover, "He is too old change and certainly too old to fall in love" I was expecting an elderly slightly decrepit indvidual - but he's 46! Now that's not old in my book!

I didn't really understand why Claude was so enamoured with Valentine, it seemed an odd relationship - as was his relationship with Rose-Marie...how could anyone let an estranged spouse walk back into their lives & take over - I wanted to slap her & give him a good shaking!

On the whole I'll just stick with my first comments of it being a nice story.

Read as part of the 2011 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE (#96)

Journal Entry 3 by Plum-crazy at Todmorden Train Station OBCZ in Todmorden, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Sunday, December 18, 2011

Released 6 yrs ago (12/19/2011 UTC) at Todmorden Train Station OBCZ in Todmorden, West Yorkshire United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

Left on the shelf with the other books

Released as part of the 2011 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE, & the D FOR DECEMBER CHALLENGE (#34)

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Journal Entry 4 by KawasakiBabe at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Monday, December 19, 2011

Discussed this book with Plum-crazy - I liked the title and the picture: looks interesting. Let's see! Grabbed from the OBCZ shelf at Todmorden Station. Thank you, crazy mate.

Journal Entry 5 by KawasakiBabe at Brighouse, West Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 07, 2012

Ha ha! I'm glad I got this book - I loved the descriptions of the clothes - I feel the urge to run out and buy purple and red designer clothes, and a lime green coat with pink buttons! I loved the style of writing - it read as if it had been translated from French, and yes, I agree with Plum-crazy that, without the references to mobile phones and the bombing of New York's Twin Towers, it could've been set in the 40's. Poor Claude! He's lived a sheltered life.

Journal Entry 6 by KawasakiBabe at Lakeside Caravan Park, Bielby. in Pocklington, North Yorkshire United Kingdom on Saturday, January 07, 2012

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